The Coma Patient Was a Musical Genius

Coma Patient Was a Music Genius
Episode 005

“You just played the cadenza part exactly as it is written in the score?”

“?!”

Cadenza.

A musical phrase that instructs the performer to improvise more freely and more splendidly, to show off his or her skills.

Simply put, the list wanted the performer to ‘ad-lib’ in this part.

It was kind of a question too.

How would you play here?

To induce that, a cadenza was intentionally inserted.

However, Ji Jae-won was nothing more than simply digesting the musical score.

Although the cadenza was nice and flashy, the performance did not match the composer’s intention.

That was why Yoo Hye-seong tilted her head.

“… Right?”

“Oh, that’s right. You played it exactly as written. I was just admiring it so I didn’t realize that.”

From the production team’s perspective, they were just dumbfounded.

Because this wasn’t the reaction I was expecting.

I’m not sure exactly what the question was intended to say, but it was more of a comment or a remark.

Can this be used as a broadcast source? That was when the production crew’s eyes started to darken.

“Oh, that’s great.”

Fortunately, though, it was followed by a sincere admiration.

In fact, compared to expectations, this was a very bland response.

No, that reaction seemed closer to interest than admiration.

PD Kim Ki-sik tried to float it, but the reaction did not progress beyond interest.

However, there is one thing that feels peculiar.

‘… The corners of your lips are going up. Why does it look like you’re looking at me with pride?’

I must be mistaken.

In this situation, is there any reason to be proud?

It just feels that way.

“Okay, so this time. Pianist Ji Jae-won played in the final round… … .”

But would it be possible to not exclaim in admiration after seeing this?

“Let me listen to ‘The Hunt’ once.”

Franz Liszt Transcendental Etudes No. 8, The Hunt.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that this song led to victory.

The production team checked the fixed camera angle once again to see if the face was captured well.

That’s how confident I was that I would be surprised here.

“For reference, let’s talk about the ‘Hunting’ that pianist Ji Jae-won performed in the final round.”

“This is a performance that received rave reviews from critics, saying, ‘This is how Franz Liszt would have played it while he was still alive.’”

An additional explanation that clearly reveals the intention.

Yoo Hye-seong smiled faintly.

The cause was the critics’ comments.

This is how Franz Liszt would have played it.

Along with that, the song ‘Hunting’ is played.

“oh.”

As expected, Yoo Hye-seong had a reaction.

“This is also great.”

…as always, close to interest.

There was no further conversation after this.

Of course, I still sincerely believe that Yoo Hye-seong is amazing.

It’s a performance that deserves to win.

‘It’s a bit unfortunate that the performance is so focused on technique.’

Unfortunately, I couldn’t agree with the critics’ comments.

Still, from Liszt’s perspective as a composer, it was not an exaggeration to say that he had digested it.

This alone was great enough.

Applauded.

“… … .”

And the staff were dumbfounded.

It was a slow applause.

Just like a superior congratulating someone.

‘Or are you the type that doesn’t express your emotions well?’

Now that I think about it, when we first met, didn’t you give off a different vibe from the average teenager?

It is also possible that the personality itself is haughty.

‘Maybe it’s because it’s not a real performance.’

No matter how excellent the performance was, the emotion was bound to be diluted when viewed on video.

If that’s the case, wouldn’t the emotions be better expressed in the studio on the day of filming?

‘I’m still amazed, but it’s not that big.’

First, we moved on to the next part to proceed.

“In the upcoming studio shoot, pianist Ji Jae-won and student Hye-seong will be performing the same piece.”

The staff added an explanation in a friendly tone.

“So we decided to each choose a song. Hyesung, do you have a song in mind? Is there a song you’re most confident in, or a song you really want pianist Ji Jaewon to evaluate?”

Yoo Hye-seong smiled again as if she had been waiting.

“hunt.”

“…!”

I headed to KBC broadcasting station with my uncle.

He seemed to be driving normally, but by the way, this was not my uncle’s car.

I borrowed my father’s car.

It seems he often borrows cars.

“You said you were going to play it as a rehearsal before the meeting and the actual studio shoot today, right?”

“Yes, so it might take some time. Is that okay? I heard you’re busy preparing for a job.”

“I’m busy, really busy.”

I see.

I looked out the window.

“…Why are you laughing?”

I turned my head so as not to be caught laughing, but the side of my face that was visible was a clown’s face.

“Do you know the sorrow of a job seeker? No matter how hard you work, others don’t notice you, and you’re always bullied at home. If you do this too, it’s really difficult… … .”

“It’s a green light.”

“Oh, yeah.”

The car picked up speed again.

Hmm. I was debating whether to do it or not.

Just said.

“thank you.”

“… That’s fine.”

“Thank you for buying me dinner today.”

“… What? When did I?”

“You must be hungry after filming, weren’t you going to buy me something to eat?”

“Ha, look at this kid. He’s such a pro.”

My uncle chuckled.

“Okay, let’s eat together for the first time in a while.”

The uncle muttered to himself, “Job seekers’ wallets will get thinner.”

Oh, if that’s what I heard, then it’s not a monologue.

“I’ll buy it for you next time.”

“No, … it’s okay.”

My uncle said this, perhaps because he was touched for no reason.

“Is there anywhere you want to go?”

“It’s the place I went on the day I was discharged from the hospital.”

“… … Are you crazy?”

I arrived at the parking lot and entered the broadcasting station.

On the way to the lobby, my uncle suddenly spoke as if he had remembered something.

“Oh, are we going to talk about ‘that’ while filming today?”

that?

When I blinked my eyes to ask what he meant, my uncle showed me a sleeping posture with his palms pressed against his ears.

Oh, you’re talking about coma.

I shrugged.

“You don’t have to.”

The reason wasn’t difficult.

I didn’t want to show my weakness to others. It was the same reason I dealt with my nosebleed the other day quietly by myself.

I just didn’t want to receive sympathy.

Also, I didn’t want my genius to be highlighted any further because of it.

‘There’s no need for things like that.’

It would be too much to listen to just my performance, even if you pay attention to such asides.

“What I want to tell is not the narrative of the performer, but the narrative of the performance.”

As I was trying to organize my thoughts, my uncle opened his mouth wide. As if he was really impressed… .

“It’s so noisy.”

“… … .”

“While I was sleeping, my second year of chuunibyou wasn’t skipped; it was matured.”

… When I first woke up, I was so shocked, but now I can even play pranks like this.

Yeah, anyway.

Upon arriving at the lobby, the staff guided us.

I took the elevator up and arrived at the meeting room.

“Oh, here you come.”

“Sit here.”

PD Kim Ki-sik welcomed us, and there were many others as well.

At that time, the person sitting next to PD Kim Ki-sik greeted me.

He was an older man, and as I just spoke to him, he turned out to be the principal conductor of the KBC Symphony Orchestra.

“This is conductor Choi Gook-hwan.”

That’s what they say.

He said he was serving as an advisor and judge for .

Soon, the meeting began.

The content flowed smoothly without any significant changes.

Along with the explanation of the storyboard for Part 1, it is said that discussions are still ongoing regarding Part 2.

It was about 30 minutes later that we moved to a new location.

A studio dedicated to .

A place to rehearse a performance.

‘oh.’

The interior was more spacious than expected, and a large piano on the stage gave off a sense of class.

What kind of sound will that piano make, and what will the keys feel like?

I was extremely curious. I wanted to go and touch it right away.

‘Oh.’

I suddenly realized that I was 16-year-old Yoo Hye-seong.

To be exact, it was after I felt my heart pounding.

Contrary to his mature memories of his previous life, his body seems to be that of a boy.

‘This is actually good.’

I laughed quietly by myself.

Because I was thinking about that.

“That’s it for the explanation… … .”

It couldn’t be helped that I couldn’t properly hear the explanation from the staff member next to me.

It wasn’t an important story anyway.

The important thing is.

“Then now.”

This was it, Yeonju.

The warmth felt on the back.

Conductor Choi Kook-hwan was smiling happily and pointing at the piano.

The camera wasn’t rolling, it was just a rehearsal to get the feel of things before the actual shooting.

But whether the camera rolls or not.

It didn’t matter.

This moment when I sit down at the piano.

“… … .”

It’s always a thrilling moment for me.

I tried to spread my palms wide.

As if cutting clothes, he placed them gently on the keyboard.

He just started to loosen his grip.

Faster and faster. Intensly.

I started to incorporate skills from my previous life into the keyboard.

As time passed, the studio became more and more noisy.

But it covered it up.

The sound of a piano resonating from my keyboard.

When I took my hands off the keyboard, they felt much lighter. I was done relaxing my hands.

“Wow, the tempo is so fast, but what about the accuracy…?”

“For something that was just a handshake, didn’t that sound so good?”

“…I honestly thought you had already started playing.”

Then, the murmurs came back to life clearly.

Looking to the side, I could see faces that were half-conscious.

“… You weren’t playing the song?”

PD Kim Ki-sik asked dumbfounded.

Next to him, conductor Choi Kook-hwan was showing deep wrinkles in his eyes.

“I just pressed it randomly and released it.”

“You pressed that button so casually? That’s too humble of an expression.”

This time the conductor laughed hollowly.

Then he started talking about ‘Franz Liszt’, and I mostly agreed with him.

Throughout the long history of music, masters who were famous for improvisation include Witthofen, Bach, Mozart, etc.

Franz Liszt had an improvisational skill so unparalleled that even they could not surpass it.

It is said to be at a level that is truly unparalleled.

“Contemporary musicians used to say that when they witnessed Liszt improvising right before their eyes, their minds felt emptied.”

Conductor Choi Gook-hwan nodded and continued.

“Hyesung, listening to your impromptu performance, I think you’ll be able to understand their feelings.”

Well, well.

I wonder if I understood it correctly.

Again, this wasn’t an improvisation just now.

It was just a loosening of the hands.

I know.

People who witnessed my improvisation right in front of their eyes couldn’t even say anything, they just stared blankly for a while.

That must be why they felt their minds empty.

So, I couldn’t say I understood.

Well then, if that’s the case.

“I’ll start now.”

I intend to make you understand properly.

PD Kim Ki-sik has always been curious.

That day, when I visited the house for an interview.

-You just played the cadenza part exactly as it is written in the score?

What was Yoo Hye-seong’s intention in asking this question?

‘Why is that?’

Of course, it wouldn’t be strange if the cadenza was played exactly as it was written in the score.

In fact, the original cadenza was meant to be played improvised to fully display the performer’s individuality and technique.

In modern times, most pianists prefer to follow the notes written on the score rather than improvise.

This tendency was even more severe in the case of concours.

This was to minimize the risk of mistakes and present a high-quality performance.

“I’ll start now.”

However, when Yoo Hye-seong started playing.

“Is this improvisation…?”

PD Kim Ki-sik realized.

The intention behind Yoo Hye-seong’s question.

ah.

That was a pity.